Wednesday, August 12, 2015

Wine Tasting in Sonoma - Merriam Vineyards

Merriam Vineyards - Gate by roland luistro, on FlickrThe past weekend, Mijo and I dropped by Merriam Vineyards. It was unplanned but we've been wanting to visit the winery ever since we tasted their wines at one of the SF Chefs event years ago.

We tasted lots of good reds at the winery. In fact, all of the wines we tasted were good. Thank you Merriam Vineyards for letting us taste delicious red and for a quick lecture on terroir.


Funny how things turn out sometimes. Mijo and I had originally planned to go to the Sonoma County Fair but didn't make it there. Instead, we made it to Merriam Vineyards. 



As you can see in the picture, the weather was great that day. 
Merriam Vineyards - Gates 

We've never been to Merriam Vineyards. We first tasted their wines at one of the SF Chefs events in the city a few years ago. I don't remember exactly the wines we tasted but I remember they were reds and they were good. Since then, Mijo and I have been wanting to go to their tasting room to taste some more.
  Merriam Vineyards - Vineyards Merriam Vineyards - Winery



A few years in the making and we finally made it to Merriam Vineyards. We also got a  complimentary tasting card for two to taste at Merriam Vineyards. We got it from a nearby winery a year ago.
Merriam Vineyards - Welcome 

We were probably early which is a good thing. The tasting room smelled of a newly built house and not the usual heady smell of cherry and jams. Their tasting cellar also looked like a huge living room with high ceilings and dark hardwood floors which made us feel at home right away.
  Merriam Vineyards - Tasting Room 

Our wine expert and pourer Harry welcomed us and presented us with the tasting menus. They have two types of tasting that day. Their Classic Tasting which consisted of both whites and reds and their Library Wine Tasting which is reds only. We chose the latter. Though in the end, Harry let us taste the reds in the Classic Tasting.
Merriam Vineyards - Wine tasting 2 
  
All I can say is this. All the wines we tasted were wonderful tasting red wines.  Lots of flavors and array of tastes and hints.

Mijo and I liked them all. Their Library Tasting consisted of 2001 Merlot (Windacre), 2007 Merlot (not on the menu), 2006 Cabernet Franc (Windacre), 2007 Cabernet Franc (Jones Vineyard), 2007 Miktos Bordeaux Blend and 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon (Block 21). 
Merriam Vineyards - Wine pour 

Harry also let us taste the reds in the Classic Tastings which consisted of 2013 Pinot Noir Estate, 2004 Merlot (Windacre), 2009 Cabernet Franc (Windacre), 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockpile and 2008 Miktos Bourdeaux Blend.
  Merriam Vineyards - Microclimates 

We decided to narrow down our choices to six because that is what our budget allowed. We decided to get the 2008 Miktos, 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon, 2001 Merlot, 2007 Merlot, 2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Rockpile, 2009 Cabernet Franc.
  Merriam Vineyards - Merlot Magnum 

I also found out that Merriam Vineyards is part of V2V or Vineyard to Villages: Turning Sonoma County Wine into African Water.
  Merriam Vineyards - Vineyards to Villages

Merriam Vineyards in off Los Amigos Rd. in Healdsburg in Sonoma.

Thank you Harry and Merriam Vineyards for a wonderful wine tasting experience!

~rl 

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